Safety Device

ABSTRACT

A safety device for laterally supporting a vehicle occupant, in particular a child, in the area of the pelvis, has two supporting devices that are spaced apart from each other. To improve lateral support of the vehicle occupant, the two supporting devices are connected rigidly to each other by an elongate carrier element.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a safety device for laterally supporting achild or other vehicle occupant in the area of the pelvis, with twosupporting devices which are spaced apart from each other.

German patent document DE 43 42 959 C2 discloses a vehicle seat with aseat cushion bearing seat upholstery and a backrest having backrestupholstery. This known vehicle seat has an upholstered element which canbe swung out of a depression in the upholstery and by which the lateralsupport for children is to be improved. German publication DE 100 38 719A1 discloses an armrest that is coupled to a backrest of a seat and, inan inoperative state, that is arranged in a lowered position on or inthe backrest of the seat. If a hazardous situation is identified, thearmrest is moved out of the lowered position into a protective positionat least in an occupant's shoulder and upper arm area. German patentdocument DE 196 05 779 C2 discloses a vehicle seat with adjustable seatcheeks and backrest cheeks. This known vehicle seat comprises a seatpart with seat cheeks and a backrest part with backrest cheeks. The seatcheeks and/or backrest cheeks, which are held moveably, take the form ofupholstered cheek parts, and can be adjusted from a wide position into anarrow position via a mechanical adjusting device. German publication DE102 58 245 A1 discloses a safety device which has at least onerestraining fan in the form of a side fan which, in a non-activatedbasic state, is stowed folded up on a vehicle component. In an activatedstate, the side fan can be opened out to form a side support laterallynext to a sitting position.

An object of the invention is to provide a safety device for laterallysupporting a vehicle occupant, such as a child, in the area of thepelvis, with two supporting devices which are spaced apart from eachother and by which the lateral support of the vehicle occupant can befurther improved.

This object is achieved in a safety device for laterally supporting avehicle occupant such as a child in the area of the pelvis with twosupporting devices that are spaced apart from each other. The twosupporting devices are connected rigidly to each other by an elongatecarrier element. The carrier element permits the supporting devices tobe fastened in a stable manner to the supporting structure of a motorvehicle. The safety device according to the invention preferably formspart of a child protection system which is integrated in the vehicle, isof modular construction, and can be expanded. In this case, the backrestof an existing vehicle seat is preferably used for the child protectionsystem. A raised child seat surface can be integrated into the backrestor into the vehicle seat surface. The elongate carrier element ispreferably arranged in the region of the intersection between backrestand seat surface. The receiving space for the raised child seat surface,which can preferably be swung out, can be used, for example, forfastening or clamping the safety device, in particular of the elongatecarrier element.

In a preferred exemplary embodiment of the safety device, the elongatecarrier element is formed from a metal rod. The rod is preferablyencased by a soft material in order to minimize the risk of injury.

In a further preferred embodiment of the safety device, one of thesupporting devices is fastened to each of the ends of the carrierelement. The supporting devices are preferably fastened to the carrierelement in a detachable manner, i.e. in a manner such that they can beremoved without being destroyed, and in an adjustable manner. Thissimplifies accommodating the safety device when not in use.

In another preferred embodiment of the safety device, the supportingdevices are fastened to the carrier element with the aid of a respectiveholding device. By way of the holding devices, the supporting devicesare positioned relative to the existing vehicle backrest and/or vehicleseat surface.

In a further preferred embodiment of the safety device, two supportingelements are fastened to each of the holding devices. Two supportingelements form a supporting device. One of the supporting elements ispreferably arranged in the area of the vehicle occupant's pelvis. Theother supporting element is preferably arranged in the area of thevehicle occupant's associated thigh.

In another preferred embodiment of the safety device, a slot for thepassage of a seat belt is provided between two supporting elementsfastened to a holding device. This makes it easier for the vehicleoccupant to put on the seat belt when the safety device is fitted.

In a further preferred embodiment of the safety device, one end of afastening arm is fastened to each of the ends of the carrier element.The fastening arms serve to fasten the safety device to the supportingstructure of a motor vehicle.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the safety device, a fasteningelement is provided at the other end of the fastening arm and can beused to fasten the carrier element to a fastening point fixed to thevehicle in a detachable manner, i.e. in a manner such that it can beremoved without being destroyed. The fastening elements are preferablylatching or snap-in elements. This affords the advantage that the safetydevice can be fitted simply and rapidly.

In a still further preferred embodiment of the safety device, the endsof the fastening points fixed to the vehicle are formed by two bowswhich are fastened to the vehicle body of a motor vehicle between abackrest and a seat surface. To fasten the safety device, use ispreferably made of what are referred to as Isofix fastening points,which are standardized. The term Isofix stands for a worldwide standardfor the fastening of child restraint systems. In this case, anchoragepoints at which child seats can be inserted and can be automaticallylocked in place are provided on the vehicle structure in the region ofthe lower end of the backrest of the vehicle seat. The present inventiondoes not use the existing Isofix fastening points to fasten an entirechild seat, but rather to fasten the safety device.

In a rear seat of a motor vehicle, which has a seat surface and abackrest, the object specified above is achieved by having a previouslydescribed safety device fastened in a detachable manner, i.e. in amanner such that it can be removed without being destroyed, in theregion of the intersection between seat surface and backrest. If theneed arises, the safety device according to the invention can befastened simply and rapidly to the supporting structure of the motorvehicle. The safety device according to the invention is preferablycombined with a raised seat, which is integrated in the vehicle.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention are apparentfrom the description below, in which an exemplary embodiment isdescribed in detail with reference to the drawing. Each of the featuresmentioned in the claims and in the description may be essential to theinvention individually by themselves or in any desired combination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The attached drawing perspectively illustrates a safety device accordingto the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The attached drawing shows a safety device 1 according to the inventionthat has two lateral supporting devices 3, 4 for the area of the pelvisof a child. The left supporting device 4 comprises an upper supportingcheek 6 and a lower supporting cheek 7. The right supporting device 3comprises an upper supporting cheek 8 and a lower supporting cheek 9.

The upper supporting cheeks 6 and 8 each have a planar bearing surface11, 12, which is of essentially rectangular design. In the installedstate of the safety device 1, the planar bearing surfaces 12, 11 of theupper supporting cheeks 6, 8 come to bear against a backrest (notillustrated) of a motor vehicle seat. Each of the upper supportingcheeks 6, 8 has the form of a sector of a circle, for example a sectorcomprising a third of a circle, which starts from the backrest of thevehicle seat and extends in the direction of the seat surface. The lowerside cheeks 7, 9 essentially have the form of elongate cubes, which eachcome to bear by means of their lower longitudinal side edge against theseat surface of a vehicle seat. The upper supporting cheeks 6, 8, whichare also referred to as side cheeks, serve to support a child's body inthe area of the hips. The lower supporting cheeks 7, 9, which are alsoreferred to as lower side cheeks, serve to support the child's body inthe area of the thighs.

The upper supporting cheek 8 and the lower supporting cheek 9 arefastened to a holding device 14 which comprises a holding element 15 anda holding element 16. The lower side cheek 9 is fastened to one end ofthe holding element 16. The other end of the holding element 16 isfastened in the interior of the upper supporting cheek 8 to one end ofthe holding element 15. The other end of the holding element 15 isfastened to one end of a carrier rod 18. The upper side cheek 6 and thelower side cheek 7 of the supporting device 4 are fastened to the otherend of the carrier rod 18 with the aid of a holding device 19 which isconstructed in the same manner as the holding device 14.

The supporting cheeks 6 to 9 are each attached in pairs to the ends ofthe carrier rod 18 in such a manner that a slot 22, 21 remains freebetween the upper side cheeks 6, 8 and the associated lower side cheeks7, 9 and serves for the passage of a seat belt (not illustrated). Thesafety device 1 according to the invention is attached, in particular,in the rear of a motor vehicle. The safety device 1 is preferably usedin conjunction with integrated child seats. The connection of the safetydevice 1 to the vehicle can take place, for example, by means ofclamping. It is conceivable to integrate a belt-guiding means into thesupporting cheeks 6 to 9. The supporting cheeks 6 to 9 are ofupholstered design, at least on the sides which face the child.

One fastening arm 25, 26 is fastened to each of the ends of the carrierrod 18 and, in the installed state of the safety device 1, extendsbetween backrest and seat surface of the vehicle seat to an Isofixfastening point (not illustrated). The two fastening arms 25, 26 areconnected detachably to the carrier rod 18 with the aid of screws 31,32. Respective latching openings 35, 36 which are equipped with alatching element, for example a snap-in hook, are formed at the freeends of the fastening arms 25, 26.

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A safety device for laterally supporting a vehicleoccupant in an area of a pelvis, comprising: two supporting devices thatare spaced apart from each other, and an elongate carrier element bywhich the two supporting devices are connected rigidly to each other.12. The safety device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the vehicleoccupant is a child.
 13. The safety device as claimed in claim 11,wherein the elongate carrier element is formed from a metal rod.
 14. Thesafety device as claimed in claim 11, wherein one of the supportingdevices is fastened to each end of the carrier element.
 15. The safetydevice as claimed in claim 11, wherein the supporting devices arefastened to the carrier element by way of respective holding devices.16. The safety device as claimed in claim 11, wherein two supportingelements are fastened to each of the holding devices.
 17. The safetydevice as claimed in claim 16, wherein a slot for passage of a seat beltis provided between two of said supporting elements fastened to one ofthe holding devices.
 18. The safety device as claimed in claim 11,further comprising a fastening arm having one end fastened to each ofthe ends of the carrier element.
 19. The safety device as claimed inclaim 18, further comprising a fastening element provided at the otherend of the fastening arm that can be used to fasten the carrier elementto a fastening point fixed to the vehicle in a detachable manner so thatthe carrier element is removable without being destroyed.
 20. The safetydevice as claimed in claim 19, wherein an end of the fastening point isfixed to the vehicle and formed by at least one bow fastened to thevehicle body of a motor vehicle between a backrest and a seat surface.21. A vehicle seat of a motor vehicle, comprising a seat surface, abackrest, and a safety device according to claim 11 fastened, in adetachable manner such that the safety device can be removed withoutbeing destroyed, in the region of an intersection between said seatsurface and said backrest.
 22. The safety device as claimed in claim 12,wherein one of the supporting devices is fastened to each end of thecarrier element.
 23. The safety device as claimed in claim 13, whereinone of the supporting devices is fastened to each end of the carrierelement.
 24. The safety device as claimed in claim 12, wherein thesupporting devices are fastened to the carrier element by way ofrespective holding devices.
 25. The safety device as claimed in claim13, wherein the supporting devices are fastened to the carrier elementby way of respective holding devices.
 26. The safety device as claimedin claim 14, wherein the supporting devices are fastened to the carrierelement by way of respective holding devices.
 27. The safety device asclaimed in claim 12, further comprising a fastening arm having one endfastened to each of the ends of the carrier element.
 28. The safetydevice as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a fastening arm havingone end fastened to each of the ends of the carrier element.
 29. Thesafety device as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a fastening armhaving one end fastened to each of the ends of the carrier element. 30.The safety device as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a fasteningarm having one end fastened to each of the ends of the carrier element.